The  Prayer  Factor 

IN  THE  WORLD’S  EVANGELIZATION 


R.  P.  MAGKAY 


Foreword 


The  Foreign  Missions  Conference  of  North  America,  composed  of 
representatives  of  some  fifty  foreign  missions  boards  and  societies  in 
the  United  States  and  Canada,  meets  annually,  in  or  near  New  York 
City.  At  the  Twentieth  Conference,  held  at  Garden  City,  Long  Island, 
the  Rev  R.  P.  Mackay,  D.D.,  of  Toronto,  presented  a  paper  on  Spir¬ 
itual  Emphasis  in  Mission  Work. 

The  Conference  addressed  itself  to  the  promotion  of  this  ministry, 
and  in  that  connection  this  paper  was  presented.  It  was  afterwards 
agreed  that  it  be  published  in  separate  form  as  the  first  of  a  possible 
series  of  contributions  on  the  same  theme.  The  conviction  exists  in 
the  Conference,  as  it  does  elsewhere,  that  the  hope  of  the  Church  lies 
in  the  ministrv  of  intercession. 

Readers  who  have  any  suggestions  to  offer  or  any  literature  to 
recommend,  will  confer  a  favor  by  forwarding  them  to  the  Secretary. 
In  this  there  will  be  the  strength  of  co-operation  and  the  “Communion 
of  Saints.” 


W.  Henry  Grant, 

Secretary. 


156  Fifth  Avenue, 

New  York,  March,  1913. 


TEACH  US  TO  PRAY 


REV.  R.  P.  MACK  AY,  D.D. 


“A  praying  soul  wrapt  in  godly  intercession  is  God's  ozvn  master¬ 
piece  on  earth:’ 

There  would  be  joy  in  Heaven,  and  upon  earth  the  “shout  of  vic¬ 
tory,”  if  the  forces  promised  in  answer  to  prayer  were  released. 

The  spiritual  side  of  Christian  activity  requires  careful  and  constant 
attention.  There  needs  no  apology  for  pressing  its  claims  on  this 
Conference  but  in  doing  so  let  it  first  be  gratefully  acknowledged  that 
there  are  very  many  in  all  the  churches,  and  their  number  is  increasing, 
who  are  faithfully  seeking  the  best,  who  are  reaching  forth  to  the  things 
that  are  before,  striving  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in 
Christ  Jesus.  With  that  recognition  the  following  suggestions  are 
submitted  for  consideration : 

i.  There  exists  amongst  the  Churches  at  the  present  time,  a  deepen¬ 
ing  sense  of  insufficiency  and  need.  In  Conferences  public  and  private, 
no  sentiment  finds  more  frequent  expression  than  this,  that  the  Church 

i 

with  her  present  spiritual  equipment  is  not  equal  to  the  requirements  of 
the  day.  Notwithstanding  greatly  increased  knowledge  of  conditions 
in  mission  fields,  and  notwithstanding  highly  developed  organization, 
the  Church  does  not  measure  up  to  the  opportunities  and  responsibilities 
of  the  hour  and  cannot  do  so  without  a  large  accession  of  spiritual 
power.  So  serious  a  charge  so  frequently  expressed  accompanied  as  it 
sometimes  is  with  feelings  kindred  to  despair  should  arrest  attention 
and  provoke  earnest  thought.  In  such  a  Conference  as  this  dealing 


I 


with  matters  of  infinite  moment,  the  mere  suggestion  that  we  lack  the 
first  and  highest  qualification  of  our  office  should  excite  humiliation 
and  confession  and  enquiry. 

Is  it  true  that  we  are  not  leading,  not  placing  the  emphasis  where  it 
belongs?  If  true,  what  can  be  done  to  get  the  Conference  and  the 
Boards  and  Churches  represented  in  the  Conference  on  a  right  footing, 
for  the  campaign  in  which  we  are  engaged?  The  enquiry  demands 
speedy  attention  and  frank,  conscientious  investigation,  for  eternal 
interests  are  at  stake. 

2.  In  addition  to  many  promises  and  assurances  in  God’s  Word  there 
have  been  given  at  intervals,  down  through  the  centuries,  times  of 
refreshing  fitted  to  inspire  confidence  and  arouse  expectations.  These 
extraordinary  spiritual  awakenings  have  been  uniformly  preceded  by 
extraordinary  prayer.  Recall  for  example  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
of  these  movements  begun  in  New  York  City  in  the  year  1857.  It  was 
remarkable  in  many  ways  but  especially  in  this,  that  it  originated  solely 
in  prayer.  There  were  no  evangelists,  but  little  preaching,  interdenomi¬ 
national  in  character,  conducted  almost  entirely  by  laymen,  without 
excitement  or  sensational  methods,  nothing  but  men  coming  together 
under  a  great  sense  of  need,  and  beseeching  the  Throne  of  grace  for 
an  outpouring  of  His  Spirit  upon  a  lost  world.  Prayer  was  answered 
and  the  outpouring  came  with  results  beyond  all  computation.  Eternity 
alone  can  reveal  how  great  the  results  were  and  what  they  meant  to  the 
world.  Are  the  needs  not  as  great  today  as  they  were  in  1857?  And 
with  the  need  a  new  urgency  in  doors  open  in  all  lands  as  they  were 
not  open  then!  They  may  not  be  open  long  and  if  closed  decades  of 
disappointment  may  come  to  the  Church  of  Christ.  If  times  and 
seasons  mean  anything  in  the  administration  of  Providence  and  Grace 
is  this  not  the  time  of  times  when  the  Church  should  awake,  should 
“take  no  rest  and  give  Him  no  rest  until  He  make  Jerusalem  a  praise 
in  the  earth”?  We  cannot  force  the  divine  hand  but  we  can  and  ought 
to  fulfil  the  conditions,  and  God  is  not  unfaithful  who  promised — 
“When  the  poor  and  the  needy  seek  water  and  there  is  none  and  their 
tongue  faileth  for  thirst,  I  the  Lord  will  hear  them.  I  the  God  of 
Israel  will  not  forsake  them.  1  will  open  rivers  in  high  places,  and 


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springs  in  the  midst  of  the  valleys.  I  will  make  the  wilderness  a  pool 
of  water  and  the  dry  land  springs  of  water.”  Such  promises  are  good 
for  all  time.  We  have  with  us  the  wilderness  and  the  parched  land 
and  the  weary  heritage.  Are  we  not  all  agreed  that  what  yet  lacketh 
is  “the  seeking”  the  importunity  that  will  not  let  go  until  the  blessing 
comes? 

3.  How  can  the  prayer  life  be  cultivated  and  a  much  larger  number 
be  led  to  share  in  this  blessed  ministry?  All  recognize  the  difficulty 
and  delicacy  of  the  problem.  One  naturally  shrinks  from  the  introduc¬ 
tion  of  machinery  in  a  realm  so  purely  spiritual.  Machinery  is  sugges¬ 
tive  of  practices  such  as  the  rosary  or  prayer  wheel  that  command 
neither  approval  nor  respect.  One  writes,  “If  there  is  any  one  phase  of 
the  missionary  enterprise  in  which  it  is  possible  to  make  serious  mis¬ 
takes  by  unwise,  overemphasis  and  artificial  plans  it  is  in  the  matter 
of  missionary  intercession.”  That  is  true.  It  is  nevertheless  true  that 
organized  effort  has  been  tried  to  good  purpose.  What  is  begun  and 
stimulated  by  organization  may  grow  into  the  liberty  and  freedom  of 
the  Spirit.  The  following  methods  are  in  common  use: 

(1)  Specified  seasons,  such  as  the  “Week  of  Prayer”  at  the  begin- 

ing  of  the  New  Year;  days  or  weeks  of  prayer  for  young  men, 
for  Colleges,  or  in  times  of  crisis  for  some  particular  mission 
or  country. 

(2)  Prayer  Cycles — so  arranged  as  to  suggest  the  material  of  prayer, 

giving  intelligence  and  directness  to  the  exercise  of  this  gift. 

(3)  Prayer  Circles — companies  of  Christians  pledging  themselves  to 

prayer  in  behalf  of  some  department  of  Christian  work  in 
which  they  are  specially  interested. 

(4)  A  register  kept  at  the  Mission  Offices  in  which  are  enrolled  the 

names  of  special  intercessors  who  have  definitely  enlisted  in 
this  ministry.  The  maintenance  of  such  a  roll  implies  labor, 
but  if  wisely  cultivated  might  bring  abundant  reward. 

(5)  The  Monthly  Missionary  meeting.  One  reports,  “I  have  been 


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doing  all  I  could  to  make  the  monthly  missionary  meeting  a 
real  nerve-centre  in  the  life  of  the  Churches,  especially  in  the 
way  of  giving  point  to  intercession  by  means  of  fresh  informa¬ 
tion,  selected  with  a  view  to  the  promotion  of  the  prayer 
spirit,  as  the  burning-heart  of  the  Church.”  The  monthly 
concert  of  prayer  for  Missions  has  been  in  the  past  a  source 
of  great  power,  but  it  is  a  cause  of  regret  that  it  has  in  some 
Churches  largely  fallen  into  disuse. 

(6)  Monthly  Magazines  are  used  to  this  end.  One  writes,  “In  our 

Monthly  Magazine,  programs  for  the  Monthly  Missionary 
meeting  are  published,  laying  emphasis  on  prayer  for  the  spe¬ 
cial  objects  suggested.”  Another  writes,  “Through  the  depart¬ 
ment  known  as  the  Sanctuary  of  Missions  in  our  Monthly 
Magazine,  we  endeavor  to  secure  regular  definite  and  intelli¬ 
gent  prayer.”  In  addition  the  same  Church  issues  a  quarterly 
leaflet  issued  by  the  Church  Prayer  League  which  works  in 
close  communication  with  the  Board  of  Missions  and  seeks 
similar  ends. 

(7)  An  hour  set  apart  for  daily  united  intercession  in  behalf  of 

Missions.  In  some  parish  Churches  and  in  some  of  the  cathe¬ 
drals  in  connection  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  this 
practice  is  followed,  but  the  whole  membership  of  the  Church 
is  urged  to  offer  intercession  for  Missions  at  the  noon  hour. 
In  accordance  with  this  general  appeal,  at  all  diocesan  and 
triennial  conventions  and  similar  Church  gatherings  business 
is  suspended  at  twelve  o’clock  noon,  to  offer  intercession  in 
behalf  of  the  Mission  enterprises  of  the  world. 

(8)  Conferences  on  Prayer — One  such  Conference  held  at  New  Wil¬ 

mington,  Pa.,  is  reported  as  exceedingly  helpful.  It  is  a  two- 
day  Conference  held  immediately  after  a  Summer  Conference, 
when  time  is  given  over  to  the  practice  of  prayer.  “Those  who 
attend,  although  it  may  be,  comparatively  few  in  number  go 
away  with  a  new  vision  and  new  purpose  and  become  agents 
for  setting  up  prayer  circles  that  actually  pray.” 


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4.  In  addition  to  these  methods  in  common  use  what  specially  con¬ 
cerns  this  Conference  is  whether  there  is  anything  further  that  it  can 
do  to  awaken  the  Church  to  a  sense  of  responsibility  and  need.  If  the 
purpose  of  our  annual  gathering  is  the  consideration  of  all  matters 
pertaining  to  foreign  mission  enterprise  surely  this  cannot  be  omitted. 
It  deserves  a  prominent  place  in  our  deliberations.  It  is  suggested : 

(1)  That  in  all  our  gatherings  prayer  should  be  a  prominent  feature. 

The  program  should  provide  for  a  lengthened  period  of  inter¬ 
cession  some  time  during  each  day.  It  is  felt  that  we  have  not 
yet  lifted  our  federated  prayer-life  as  a  Foreign  Mission  Con¬ 
ference,  to  the  same  level  to  which  we  have  lifted  our  other 
activities. 

(2)  When  Jesus  was  on  earth  He  did  not  give  Himself  to  literature 

or  organization,  but  to  the  building  up  of  men,  and  into  the 
hands  of  these  men  He  put  one  weapon  for  the  conquest  of 
the  world.  They  should  be  men  of  prayer.  “If  ye  ask  anything 
in  my  name  I  will  give  it.”  Should  not  we  as  secretaries  set 
the  example  and  be  known  as  men  of  prayer?  Should  we  not 
be  to  our  missionaries  and  Boards  and  Churches  living  epistles 
known  and  read?  Every  thought  about  us  should  be  through 
force  of  example,  an  incentive  to  prayer.  Certainly,  our  appeals 
will  mean  little  unless  we  are  what  we  ask  others  to  be. 

(3)  Every  effort  should  be  put  forth  in  farewell  conferences  with 

missionaries  going  out  for  the  first  time  or  returning  after 
furlough,  to  give  the  cultivation  of  their  own  spiritual  life  a 
first  place.  And  to  that  end  much  time  should  be  given  to 
communion  with  God  in  prayer. 

(4)  Meetings  of  Boards  should  be  characterized  by  the  same  devo¬ 

tional  spirit  we  desire  to  have  present  in  this  Conference.  It 
is  more  than  unfortunate,  it  is  disastrous  that  the  whole  time 
of  a  meeting  of  the  Board  should  be  so  crowded  with  details 
that  they  find  no  time  for  this,  the  most  important  thing. 
A  The  chief  responsibility  for  the  atmosphere  of  the  Board  must 

rest  upon  the  officers  who  have  the  program  in  hand  and  give 
direction  to  the  discussions.  -• 

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(5)  The  Secretaries  of  Mission  Boards,  might  well  take  upon  them¬ 

selves  the  burden  of  suggesting  the  promotion  of  such 
“moments  on  the  mount”  in  Synods  and  Assemblies,  Confer¬ 
ences  or  other  gatherings  of  ministers  and  Christian  workers. 
It  is  an  acknowledged  need,  and  the  proposal  would  be  wel¬ 
comed  if  some  one  would  but  lead.  Who  could  take  prominence 
in  such  effort  more  suitably  than  Mission  officials  chosen  by 
the  Church  as  specially  fitted  to  deal  with  the  most  sacred 
interests  in  the  Church’s  care.  Such  a  move  would  be  almost 
universally  welcomed  as  the  want  of  it  is  almost  universally 
lamented. 

(6)  Secretaries  are  called  upon  to  deliver  many  addresses  throughout 

their  Churches.  In  addition  to  impressing  the  duty  of  prayer 
might  not  such  visits  be  made  the  occasion  of  enlisting  inter¬ 
cessors,  who  will  definitely  undertake  to  share  in  this  ministry? 

(7)  Might  not  secretaries  have  on  hand  a  list  of  chosen  ones,  an  inner 

circle,  to  whom  as  to  a  council  of  war,  they  can  turn  in  times 
of  crisis  or  special  opportunity,  in  connection  with  which,  a 
marked  manifestation  of  the  power  of  God  is  needed  and  may 
be  expected. 

(8)  Might  not  more  be  done  in  the  production  and  circulation  of 

literature,  upon  prayer  as  is  being  done  in  connection  with 
other  departments  of  Mission  work — not  of  equal  importance? 
There  are  on  hand  booklets  on  prayer  of  great  value  that  might 
be  more  widely  utilized,  but  the  number  ought  to  be  largely 
increased  and  judiciously  circulated,  beyond  the  ordinary  sales 
of  the  Book  Room. 

(9)  The  Board  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  adopted  the 

following  comprehensive  resolution,  “We  call  upon  the  Church 
to  join  with  us  and  with  the  Women’s  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  in  making  the  coming  year  a  year  of  prayer,  with 


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quarterly  meetings  for  prayer  in  behalf  of  Missions  in  every 
Church,  and  with  a  noonday  prayer  circle  girdling  the  earth, 
a  circle  which  shall  unite  the  strong,  the  weak,  the  poor,  the 
rich,  the  learned,  the  unlettered,  in  the  holy  fellowship  of  inter¬ 
cessory  intercession.”  So  ambitious  a  resolution  is  not  more 
ambitious  than  the  occasion  demands.  May  this  Board  realize 
that  it  pays  “To  attempt  great  things  for  God.” 

(io)  The  General  Council  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of 
North  America  is  at  present  preparing  a  revised  Church-book 
in  which  is  to  be  incorporated  a  number  of  collects  for  Mis¬ 
sions,  in  order  that  in  the  general  and  public  prayers  of  the 
entire  Church  there  may  be  continuously  remembered  the 
evangelization  of  the  world. 

(n)  Let  the  Boards  and  missionary  leaders,  and  others  of  kindred 
spirit,  meet  and  face  this  supreme  problem  by  themselves,  giv¬ 
ing  the  time  necessary  to  harmonize  views  and  reach  conclu¬ 
sions.  Out  of  these  denominational  Conferences  let  there  arise 
interdenominational  conferences,  through  which  may  be  dis¬ 
covered  what  further  steps  should  be  taken  to  promote  this 
indispensable  ministry.  “If  there  is  value  in  united  conference 
for  the  clearing  of  our  vision  and  the  perfecting  of  our 
methods,  will  there  not  be  some  corresponding  result  if  we  meet 
in  prayer  and  exercise  this  gift  unitedly?” 

(12)  Answered  prayers  in  the  Old  Testament  and  New  have  been  an 
inspiration  to  the  Church  in  all  the  ages.  Might  not  greater 
use  be  made  of  similar  answers  in  modern  Missions?  A  well 
selected  collection  of  incidents  would  be  of  historic  value,  as 
well  as  prove  a  stimulus  to  the  faith  of  believers.  Prayer  life 
is  quickened  by  anything  that  creates  a  sense  of  the  reality 
of  the  presence  of  Him  who  is  in  the  midst  of  the  golden 
candlesticks. 

* 

These  suggestions  and  others  that  may  be  offered  are  commended  to 

the  consideration  of  the  Conference.  Again  let  it  be  said  that  the 


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delicacy  and  dangers  of  what  may  seem  mechanical  methods  is  recog¬ 
nized,  but  because  of  difficulties  we  may  not  stand  still.  There  is  danger 
in  the  pulpit,  but  the  pulpit  cannot  on  that  account  be  abandoned.  It  is 
to  be  expected  that  a  method  that  commends  itself  to  one  mind  and 
heart  will  not  appeal  to  another.  There  is,  however,  no  difference  of 
opinion  here  as  to  the  statement  that  this  problem  is  fundamental — that 
if  the  best  results  to  be  attained,  we  must  daily  return  to  foundation 
principles  and  plant  ourselves  upon  the  solid  rock  of  the  eternal  promise. 
God  uses  many  instrumentalities  but  the  first  and  greatest  of  these  is 
prayer — “Ye  have  not  because  ye  ask  not” — “Ask  and  receive  that  your 
joy  may  be  full.” 


Q 


UNITED  PRAYER  FOR  THE  WORLD 


Praise 

For  the  unspeakable  gift  of  God’s  love;  for  the  share  He  gives  us 
in  His  work;  for  those  He  has  delivered  from  the  power  of  darkness 
and  translated  into  the  Kingdom  of  His  dear  Son. 

Common  Daily  Prayer 

For  a  realization  of  the  need  of  the  non-Christian  world;  its  help¬ 
lessness,  its  poverty,  its  materialism,  lust  and  superstition,  the  in¬ 
adequacy  of  its  religions;  its  spiritual  hopelessness. 

For  a  truer  conception  of  the  Mission  of  the  Church;  for  more  con¬ 
secration  and  sacrifice;  for  a  full  surrender  to  the  leadership  of  Christ; 
and  that  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  will  thrust  forth  laborers  into  Flis 
Harvest. 

For  the  missionaries  that  they  may  have  a  continual  sense  of  Christ’s 
presence,  and  may  have  greater  access  to  the  hearts  of  the  people. 

For  the  Church  that  it  may  grow  in  faith  and  love  and  fruitfulness. 

For  religious  liberty  and  peace. 

For  the  evangelization  of  the  whole  world  and  the  establishment  of 
the  Kingdom  of  Christ. 

“That  they  might  know  Thee,  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ 
whom  Thou  hast  sent.” 


